Public Statements

40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Floor Speech

Mr. PALLONE. Today marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Ultimately decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy, or raise a child must be left to a woman, her family, and her faith, with the counsel of her doctor or health care provider.

Roe v. Wade prevents politicians from interfering with a woman's personal decision. Were Roe ever to be overturned, it could have ripple effects. Our laws and traditions afford constitutional protections to personal decisions relating to, among other things, marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child-rearing, and intimacy. The right to privacy, strengthened by Roe, supports each of these areas.

Overturning Roe could thus potentially erode the ability of individuals to make highly personal decisions free from intrusive government regulations and harm the overall right to privacy.